Mine locomotive frame structure



Jan. 21, "1941. H. F. FLOWERS MINE LOCOMOTIVE FRAME STRUCTURE Filed Oct. 17, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 J. 21, ri-f* H. F. FLowER MINE LOCOMOTIVE FRAME STRUCTURE 3 Sheets-Sheet y2 Filed 0G12. 17, 1939 MUN Jam., 2L 1L l H. F. FLOWERS 292297557 MINE LOCOMOTIVE FRAME STRUCTURE Filed Oct. 17, 1959 l5 vSheets-Sheet 3 Patented Jan. 21, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 9 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in traction vehicles and particularly seeks to provide a novel frame structure for mine locomotives.

It has been found desirable in the construction of mine locomotives to provide frame structures composed of a plurality of frame elements secured together, as by Welding, to thereby present a composite unitary frame of great strength, yet which is simple in design.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a unitary frame structure for mine locomotives or the like in Which the side and end Walls are formedfrom a plurality of layers of plates, with the layers disposed in superposed relation and Welded together, and in Which the load, buffer and collision stresses are adapted to be distributed throughout the frame through the medium of longitudinally extending box girders.

Another object of the invention is to provide a Y frame structure of the character stated which is composed of a plurality of frame elements secured together, as by Welding, to thereby prese-nt a composite frame of great strength. Y

Another object of the invention is to provide a structure of the character stated in which no removable frame element fastening devices such as bolts or rivets, are employed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a locomotive frame of the character stated in which ballast can be provided to increase traction effect by merely increasing the number of plates Which are superposed in the formation of the frame.

A further object of the invention is to provide a locomotive frame of the character stated which is specifically intended for use in conjunction with aXleless trucks on which Wheels are mounted in tandem relation.

A still further object of the invention isl to provide a locomotive frame of the character stated which is simple in design, rugged in construction, and economical to manufacture.

With theseand other objects in View which will more fully appear, the nature of the inven tion will be more clearly understood by following the description, the appended claims, and the several Views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan View of a mine locomotive frame constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is a front end elevation thereof.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the frame, the operating equipment being omitted.

Figure 5 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the frame structure as shown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a rear end elevation of the frame, the operating equipment being omitted.

Figure 7 is a transverse section taken on line If-'I of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a detailed longitudinal section at the rear end of the frame.

Figure 9 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating a fragment of wall structure.

In the example of embodiment herein disclosed, the invention is illustrated as embodied in a mine locomotive frame A, which includes spaced parallel side Walls 5, 5, an arcuate rear end Wall 6, and an arcuate front end Wall 1.

Each side Wall 5 is composed of a plurality of laminae and includes one or more layers of relatively thin plates 8, and an outer plate 9` of greater thickness. The respective laminae are joined together in surface contact, preferably by Welding.

Each of the end Walls 6, I is composed of a plurality of laminae and includes one or more layers of relatively thin plates I0, and an outer plate II of greater thickness. Each of the layers I0, I I is formed from a plurality of relatively small plates, Which are butt-welded together. The respective layers Ill, II are preferably joined together in surface contact by Welding. The laminated plates are welded at their edges and ends throughout. They may also be Welded at .points Where extra strength is needed. The surfaces may be Welded with a resistance Welder, or a hole may be punched through the outer plates and Weld fbuilt up through the hole by using acetylene or arc Welding.

The ends of the front and rear wall sections 6, 'I are butt welded to the adjacent ends of the side Wall sections 5 to thereby provide a composite unitary shell for the frame.

The column or loading stresses set up by the Weight of the completely assembled frame are carried and distributed throughout the frame through the medium of a pair of spaced parallel longitudinally extending box girders I2, I2 which are constructed in the following manner.

The side walls 5 are cut away from the bottom as at I3 to provide clearance for the trucks, and also to permit the bottom edgeof the frame to be disposed as closely as practical to the tracks. See Figure 5.

A bottom plate I4 extends across the full distance between the side walls 5 and has its opposing edges secured thereto by Welding. The plate I4 is disposed slightly above the plane of the upper limit of the cut away portions I3 of the side Walls 5. See Figures 4 and 5. A pair of parallel, longitudinally extending vertical plates I5, I5 are respectively spaced inwardly from the side walls 5, and have their bottom edges welded to the plate I4 which forms a common bottom for both box girders. Top plates I6,l I6 are provided to complete the girders and are respectively welded to the upper edges of each side Wall and its adjacent longitudinally extending plate I5.

One or more transversely extending and vertically disposed bulkhead plates II may beemployed between the plates I5 of the girders I2 and these provide additional strengthening elements which resist lateral deflection of the frame.

It will be observed by reference to Figures 1 and 2 that the spaces donned by the bottom plate I4, the longitudinal plates I5, and the bulkhead plates I'I, form shallow wells or hatches in which the electrical contactors and control equipment including resistance units, generally designated B, may be mounted. The wells thus defined are adapted to be closed by a cover (not shown) which fits over a hatch coaming I8 secured to the top plates IE.

The forward end of the bottom plate I4 extends beyond the forward limit of the box girders I2, is bent downwardly to form an inclined panel I9 and terminates in a Short vertical panel 20. The bottom edge of the panel 2%) is welded to the straight rear edge of a semi-circular floor plate 2l which is Welded to the inner face of the front end section I and disposed slightly above the bottom edge thereof.

Each end wall section 6 or I is provided with a symmetrically disposed slot 22 located above the plane of the :Iioor plate 2 I, and through which a coupling device 23 is adapted to extend. See Figures 4 to 6, and 8. A forwardly diverging V-shaped guard 24 has its ends welded to the inner face of each wall section 6 or 1, and its lower edge welded to the respective iloor plate 2|.

A generally arcuate seat 25 extends around the inner periphery of the front wall 'I, and rests upon the corresponding guard 24. The seat is welded to the guard and to the front wall 'I.

The coupling 23y at the front end has its inner end pivotally mounted on a vertical shaft 26 journaled between the floor plate 2| and the seat plate 25, and is disposed near the apex of the corresponding V-guard 24.

A bracket 2T is provided on the forward face of the front section 'I and serves as a support for a headlight.

llhe construction of the rear end of the frame is generally similar to that of the front, but a semi-circular plate 28 is substituted for the seat plate 25 provided at the front. The rear wall section B is also provided with an aperture 29 through which the beam of a rearwardly projected headlight may extend.

It will be observed that as a result of having the bottom plate I4 common to both box girders and to both side walls, as well as being inclined downwardly at both ends to terminate at the oor plates 2I, the coupling and buffer stresses imposed through the couplers will be transmitted through the entire frame and will not be highly localized. See Figures 2 and 7.

A trolley 30 is mounted on each top plate I6 near the forward end thereof.

The Vv-arious necessary items of manual control `equipment such as the controller box, brake handle, etc., are located in the front section, and are so disposed as to be readily accessible from the semi-circular operators seat 25.

In some instances it may be found desirable to provide cutaway portions 3| in the front wall section 'I to facilitate ingress and egress of the operator.

Four king pin assemblies are dependably mounted on the bottom plate I4, and each includes a king pin 32, and a king pin head sleeve 33 carried by a mounting plate 34 welded to the bottom plate I4 and braced against lateral displacement by a plurality of radially disposed inclined struts 35.

It should be noted that the frame is additionally braced across each pair of king pin assemblies by transversely extending bolsters 36, and that the box girders I2 are reinforced at the location of each king pin assembly by both transverse and longitudinal deflection resisting plates 31.

In some uses of locomotives employing frames constructed in accordance with the invention, it will be found necessary to add ballast to provide sufficient traction between the locomotive drive wheels and the rails. Whenever such ballast is needed, additional plates can be superposed over the laminae forming the frame body in sufiicient quantity to provide the weight desired. By the addition of ballast in the manner described, the weight of the frame can be materially increased with only a slight increase in the bulk of the frame, and at the same time without reducing the space available for the installation of necessary operating or control equipment.

It should be noted that the arcuate front and rear end wall sections materially contribute to safety in the operation of locomotives employing this frame, as there are no projecting corners capable of accidentally contacting mine projections in the event of accidental derailment or the like.

Thus it will be seen that the invention provides a novel frame for mine locomotives or the like which is composed of a plurality of plate elements welded vtogether -to form a unitary structure which is simple in design, rugged in construction, and economical to manufacture.

It should be obvious that through the use of laminated side and end Wall sections, instead of solid plates, material savings in the cost of production Vare effected.

It is of course to be understood that the details of structure and arrangement of parts may be variously changed and modified without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim:

l. A frame for traction vehicles including spaced parallel side wall portions, front and rear end Wall portions joined to said side Wall portions, and a bottom, each of said side wall portions comprising at least two laminations or layers of plate disposed in face to face contact, said end wall portions each comprising at least two laminations or layers of plates disposed in face to face contact with each lamination or layer formed from a plurality of plate elements disposed in edge abutting relation, the whole being joined together by welding to thereby form a unitary frame structure.

2. A fully welded unitary frame for traction vehicles including spaced parallel side wall sections, arcuate front and rear end sections and a Bil bottom, said side and end sections comprising at least two laminations or layers of plates disposed in face to face contact, and a longitudinally extending box girder formed in part by the respective side wall section and disposed between said side wall sections and connected thereto and to said bottom whereby the frame is strengthened and stresses due to loading will be distributed throughout the frame.

3. A fully Welded unitary frame for traction vehicles including spaced parallel side wall sections, arcuate front and rear end sections, and a bottom plate, vertical longitudinally extending plates spaced inwardly from each side wall section and secured to said bottom, and top plates extending from the side walls to the adjacent vertical plate to thereby form a pair of spaced parallel box girders having a common bottom plate and adapted to distribute load stresses throughout the frame.

4. A fully welded unitary frame for traction vehicles including spaced parallel side wall sections, arcuate front and rear end sections, and a bottom plate, said side and end sections comprising at least two laminations or layers of plate, each lamination or layer of said end sections being formed from a plurality of plate elements ydisposed in edge abutting relation, and a pair of spaced parallel stress distributing box girders disposed along said side wall sections, said bottom plate being common to and forming the bottom of both girders.

5. A fully welded unitary frame for traction vehicles including spaced parallel side wall sections, said side wall section-s having portions cut away from the lower edges thereof to provide clearance for the mounting of trucks, arcuate front and rear end sections, a bottom plate extending between said side walls and being disposed in a plane slightly above the cutaway portion of said side Walls, end reinforcing iloor plates disposed in said front and rear sections adjacent the lower edges thereof, Ithe front and rear ends of said bottom plate being inclined downwardly toward and terminated at the respective iioor plates, and a pair of spaced parallel stress distributing box girders disposed along said sides, said bottom being common to and forming the bottom of both girders to thereby transmit coupling and buffer stresses therethrough.

6. A fully welded unitary frame for traction vehicles including spaced parallel side Wall sections, said side wall sections having portions cut away from the lower edges thereof to provide clearance for the mounting of trucks, arcuate front and rear end sections, a bottom plate extending between said side walls and being disposed in a plane slightly above the cutaway portion of said side walls, end reinforcing floor plates disposed in said front and rear sections adjacent the lower edges thereof, the front and rear ends of said bottom plate being inclined downwardly toward and terminated at the respective oor plates, a pair of spaced parallel stress distributing box girders disposed along said sides, said bottom being common to and forming the bottom of both girders to thereby transmit coupling and buffer stresses therethrough, and a plurality of king pin assemblies dependably mounted beneath said girders for connection with axleless driving trucks.

'7. A fully welded unitary frame for traction vehicles including spaced parallel side wall sections, said side Wall sections having portions cut away from the lower edges thereof to provide clearance for the mounting of trucks, arcuate front and rear end sections, said side and end sections comprising at least two laminations or layers of plate, each lamination or layer of said end sections being formed from a plurality of -plate elements disposed in edge abutting relation, a bottom plate extending between said side walls and being disposed in a plane slightly above the cutaway portion of said side walls, end reinforcing oor plates disposed in said front and rear sections adjacent the lower edges thereof, the front and rear ends of said bottom plate being inclined downwardly toward and terminated at the respective oor plates, a pair of spaced parallel stress distributing box girders disposed along said sides, said bottom being common to and forming the bottom of both girders to thereby transmit coupling and buifer stresses therethrough, and a plurality of king pin' assemblies dependably mounted beneath said girders for connection with axleless driving trucks.

8. A frame for traction Vehicles including spaced parallel side. wall portions, iront and rear end wall portions joined to said side wall portions, and a bottom, said side and end wall portions each comprising at least two laminations of plates disposed in surface contact with edges abutting, the ends of the plates forming each lamination being staggered out of alignment with the ends of the plates of the opposing lamination, and the whole being joined together by welding to thereby form a unitary frame structure.

9. A fully welded unitary frame for traction vehicles including spaced parallel side Wall sections, arcuate front and rear end sections, a bottom plate .extending between said side sections and being disposed in a plane above that of the bottom edges of said side wall sections, end reinforcing iioor plates disposed in said front and o rear sections adjacent the lower edges thereof, the front and rear ends of said bottom plate being inclined downwardly toward and terminated at the respective floor plates, a pair of spaced parallel stress distributing box girders disposed along said sides, said bottom plate being common to and forming the bottom of both girders to thereby .transmit coupling and buier stresses therethrough, and a pair of king pin assemblies dependably mounted beneath each of said girders for connection with axleless driving trucks.

H. FORT FLOWERS. 

